‘Role Of Facility Managers Has Grown Manifold’

In a recent panel discussion, industry leaders gathered to address the growing significance of eco-friendly building materials and their impact on the future workplace. The panel was chaired by Abhijit Sarkar, Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Board of Directors at Megas Group. The discussion highlighted the critical role of sustainability in modern facility management and the various challenges and solutions associated with adopting sustainable practices.

Abhijit Sarkar opened the discussion by emphasising the evolving role of facility managers. He said, “Admin, which earlier used to be seen as a backend function, has moved to a strategic function. While we talk about travel, procurement, ESG and sustainability, the role of facility managers has grown manifold.” Sarkar further explained the comprehensive nature of sustainability, stating, “Sustainability is not only about the environment; it is all about managing people, the wellbeing of employees, and ensuring that the operations a facility manager runs are environment-friendly.”

Citing the World Economic Forum, he pointed out that “commercial buildings consume 40 per cent of the total energy globally,” stressing the urgent need to address this issue.

Shweta Varshney, EHS Head (SRE), Siemens, elaborated on the importance of sustainable construction materials, outlining three key aspects: conservation, protection of nature and high-quality materials. “Conservation means reducing wastefulness; glass added with cement gives more strength to the structure, and timber should be replaced with bamboo,” she explained. Varshney also highlighted the concept of eco-design, saying, “Redesign means promoting eco-design. Whatever can be repaired, should be repaired. Whatever we can recover from a demolition project should be recovered.” She introduced the ‘7 Rs’ of sustainability: reduce, reuse, recycle, redesign, repair, renew and recover, which serve as guiding principles for sustainable practices.

Tushar Saksena, Vice President and Head of Operations, Tenon FM, addressed the challenges faced by companies in implementing sustainable projects. He identified three main hurdles: the high initial investment, limited resources, and the lack of legislation differentiating between sustainable and non-sustainable practices. “The initial investment in sustainable projects is very large, and for a mid-sized company, it is a challenge to get hands-on with all the aspects of sustainability,” he noted. Saksena also pointed out the inadequacies of global rating agencies, stating, “Global rating agencies do give ESG ratings, but they are also not governed by law.”

Samir Patil, Head of Real Estate-ISC & APAC, Philips India, provided insights into Philips India’s approach to reducing energy consumption through innovative measures. “Energy consumption can be done for various kinds of operations. We have started by adopting very small measures like the use of ethanol since fossil fuels are limited,” he said. Patil highlighted the company’s efforts to promote electric vehicles (EVs), saying, “We have been encouraging the diversion of fleets from regular fuel to green energy. We are even paying an extra sum for EVs and offering discounts if employees lease or rent EVs.” These initiatives reflect the company’s commitment to sustainable practices and reducing its carbon footprint.

The panel discussion underscored the necessity of adopting eco-friendly building materials and sustainable practices in shaping the future workplace. The insights shared by the industry leaders provided a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with sustainability in facility management. As companies continue to prioritise environmental and employee wellbeing, the role of facility managers and sustainable construction practices will undoubtedly become increasingly critical in creating a greener and healthier workplace.

-By Sheikh Rishad